I’m I am currently sat (well propped) upright in my hospital bed and my baby daughter is finally fast asleep in her cot next to me. The little madam who wasn’t supposed to make her arrival until her elective section on Tuesday decided to make an early appearance, and boy was it eventful!

Everyone loves a birth story – so I thought I’d share with you the story of how our 2nd daughter entered the world!

After attending for pre op earlier that day, I’d returned home as normal – feeling a bit drained from being at the hospital for so long, but otherwise good. After going through the procedure and my concerns with the midwife, I felt a little more comfortable about the c-section and was able to concentrate more on being excited rather than terrified.

I started to get a few braxton hicks during dinner at Mikes mums  that evening and they felt slightly stronger than usual but I didn’t think much of it – after all- during this pregnancy I have had them a lot more than with Erin so it had kind of become the norm. They however seemed to get worse as the night went on. At about ten thirty I told Mike I was going to bed and that I was hoping these were still practice contractions! (Cue nervous laughter).

Mike came to bed about midnight but I hadn’t slept. The pains were every fifteen / twenty mins or so at this point but felt bad enough for me to download a contraction timer app on to my phone. At about 1.30 when this pattern had continued I decided to ring the hospital – they told me due to my situation – with a breech baby and being booked in for section, I should come in for observation, and if it was a false alarm they would send me home. I decided not to disturb Erin or call Mikes mum just yet, convinced that this would the case so woke Mike up and told him I was heading to the hospital and that I would keep him informed. Neither of us were particularly concerned!

The drive to the hospital however was tough – I had 5 contractions on the way, despite the journey being only around twenty minutes. They were getting more regular and more and more severe every time. I had forgotten what they felt like! I breathed as deep and as slowly as I could and drove really slowly! Thankfully there wasn’t much traffic at that time in the morning!

When I got to the assessment unit I was put on a trace and the midwife could see straight away that my contractions were very strong and that I was in definitely in labour. She called for a doctor to scan me and he confirmed that baby was indeed still breech. He then did an internal examination and advised that I was  already 5cm dilated and that things appeared to be moving fairly quickly. He said on that basis we needed to do the section and that he would get the anaesthetist down to speak with me. My first response was ‘SHIT! Now??’ and I had a bit of a cry!  I never expected for labour to come before my scheduled section date (after going to 41+ 6 last time) or for one minute my labour to progress so quickly, especially after Erin took 36 hours to enter the world!!! Luckily I had put my ranitidine oral solution in my handbag just incase as they asked me when I’d last eaten and got me to take that there and then.

I tried to call Mike but guess what?! He’d fallen back asleep and didn’t answer his phone!!!! I started to get a bit panicky at this point – as the thought of him missing the birth didn’t even bear thinking about! I ended up ringing his mum on their house phone – (something which I’m sure scared the hell out of them!!) and thankfully she has a spare key. She rushed round to wake him up and stay with Erin.

Mike arrived just as I was being wheeled to theatre (by the skin of his teeth!). He didn’t bring anything with him (no baby clothes or anything!) and bless him looked a little shell shocked. The anesthetist was such a lovely man,- he really helped me, and Mike relax and put me at ease. Despite having strong contractions even up to the point the spinal was put in, he was able to ease my concerns and ensure I understood what was happening. Mike got into scrubs and came and joined me at the head end of the bed, with a large screen placed between us and my tummy.  The procedure itself took around 30-40 minutes, including the removing of my placenta and stitching me back up. I had read that you feel pressure when they are getting the baby out, but I felt much more tugging and pulling than I expected, so I’m glad I had been warned. It didn’t hurt – just felt very very strange.

The midwife talked me through what was happening including things like ‘her bums out!’ And ‘ we’re just getting her head’. She didn’t cry straight away (apparently a lot of section babies don’t) – and those first few seconds of silence felt like an eternity before she let out a stifling cry! I burst into tears again – our daughter was here!! 🙂 One of the side effects from the spinal can be the shakes and I did have mild quivers so didn’t feel comfortable holding her straight away. Mike was handed her in a bundle and came and held her so I could see her little face. She responded to my voice straight away, opening her eyes wide! She looks exactly like Erin did when she was born!

My section experience was largely positive despite ending up being a little more urgent than planned. It was calm, and I felt in control despite it not being the birth I wanted. Recovery however so far has been hard! I am in quite a lot of pain and due to breast feeding pretty much constantly last night I have had very little sleep for two days. I am told every day gets a little easier but for now even standing or turning over in bed is very sore!

I miss Erin like mad but she has been to see us both days and adores her baby sister already! I hope it stays that way!

Lucy